Construction of the North-South Expressway, Nghi Son - Dien Chau section in July 2021

Nghi Son - Dien Chau Expressway has selected a contractor

ProjectNorth-South ExpresswayThe section through Nghi Son - Dien Chau (Nghe An) is 43.5km long, with 4 bidding packages, of which 3 packages have identified contractors, including:Package XL01 (Km380+000 - Km389+900), the contractor is the joint venture of Son Hai Group Co., Ltd. - Deo Ca Group Joint Stock Company - Deo Ca Construction Joint Stock Company. The contract value is 1,100 billion VND, will be implemented from July 2, 2021 and last for 24 months. Regarding the construction progress, the contractor is mobilizing equipment, machinery and human resources to the construction site for implementation.

Internal road in the resettlement area of ​​the North-South expressway project in Quynh Vinh - Hoang Mai. Photo: Tran Chau

The second package is Package XL02 (Km389+900 - Km405+000), Project Management Board 6 is evaluating the financial proposal to submit to the Ministry of Transport for approval of the contractor selection results.

The third package is Package XL03 (Km405+000 - Km419+600), Contract value: 1,266 billion VND, construction contract has been signed and the fourth package is Package XL04 (Km419+600 - Km430+000),Construction contractor: Joint venture of CIENCO4 Group Joint Stock Company - Tan Nam Construction Joint Stock Company - Truong Son Construction Investment Joint Stock Company; Contract value: 1,139 billion VND. Currently, the contractor is mobilizing equipment, machinery and human resources to the construction site to implement the construction.

With the above progress, it can be seen that the Nghi Son - Dien Chau section has been under construction since July 2021, however, site clearance is facing many difficulties.

Focus on handing over the site

According to the report of Committee 6 of the Ministry of Transport, the current land clearance along the route is 40km/43.5km, reaching 92%. The land clearance calculated by area is 365.7/392.1 ha, reaching 93.2%.

Recently, the Department of Transport (Standing Agency of the Provincial Steering Committee) has regularly urged and directed localities to focus on speeding up the progress of compensation, support and resettlement for the North-South expressway projects in the East, the section passing through Nghe An province.

Dien Phuc - Dien Chau resettlement area is not yet completed. Photo: Tran Chau

Up to now, the People's Committees of districts and towns have made efforts and focused on implementing compensation, support and resettlement work to serve the project and have achieved certain results such as: Land acquisition and resettlement of about 81/87.84km, reaching 92%; Basic construction of resettlement areas for residential land has been completed in 21/27 areas, land allocation to households has been organized in 16/27 areas; Relocation of technical infrastructure has been completed with 1 water system (Hung Nguyen), 110Kv power line (Yen Thanh) and relocation of 351/655 graves.

To implement the project to meet the required progress, the Provincial People's Committee has regularly directed and resolved difficulties and problems related to the authority of the Provincial People's Committee; Departments and branches have paid attention to guiding localities and advised and reported to the Provincial People's Committee to resolve according to the functions and tasks of the branches.

Problems with power lines in Dien Chau area. Photo: Tran Chau

However, the progress of compensation, support and resettlement work of localities is still slow, not meeting the progress required by the Government, Ministry of Transport and Provincial People's Committee (to be completed before June 30, 2021).

Currently, the volume is still unfinished with a length of about 6.84km; Resettlement infrastructure construction has not been completed in 6 areas; Technical infrastructure works (electricity, water, telecommunications...) have not been relocated; 181 graves have not been relocated, 219/4,859 households have not received compensation, including: Hoang Mai 133 households; Quynh Luu 16 households; Yen Thanh 24 households and Dien Chau 46 households.

The biggest problem now is the power line. Currently, 69/70 power line locations have not been relocated. The 220Kv power line is selecting a consulting unit to design the construction drawings, the 110Kv power line has not completed the clearance of the pole foundation position for relocation; the medium and low voltage power line has not been relocated; the Viettel cable has not been relocated (along with the power pole and VNPT pole).

Mr. Le Truong Giang - Secretary of Hoang Mai Town Party Committee said: The North-South Expressway project is an important project that is currently being focused on by the Government and regularly inspected and urged to progress. Recognizing its important role, the town has focused on site clearance in the past, but there are still many issues that need to be resolved. The town needs to soon announce the infrastructure investment rate for people to choose, speed up the site clearance progress to meet the province's required progress on the basis of ensuring compliance with legal regulations.

Quynh Luu district also has 15 households that have not reached an agreement. 32/47 households have been resettled, but 5 graves have not been relocated.

Representatives of Department 6 of the Ministry of Transport met with Hoang Mai town to resolve site clearance. Photo: Tran Chau

Regarding the disbursement of adequate capital, up to now, Committee 6 has provided 1,217.68/1,508.14 billion, up to now, it has disbursed 1,008.74/1,217.68 billion, reaching 82% (of which: In 2021, the Committee provided 275.15 billion, up to now, it has disbursed 69.3/275.15 billion, reaching 25.2% (specifically: Hoang Mai Town 26.4/113 billion, reaching 23.3%; Quynh Luu 30.11/72.15 billion, reaching 41.73%; Dien Chau 10.3/75 billion, reaching 13.73%; Yen Thanh 2.5/15 billion, reaching 16.67%).

Regarding the cause of the delay according to the Department of Transport: Some localities have not mobilized the entire political system to take drastic action to direct. The management and direction of the Land Acquisition Council, District-level Departments, Commune-level People's Committees and implementing units have not been really drastic, leading to progress not meeting requirements.

The Land Acquisition Council in some localities has not been highly responsible, the propaganda and mobilization work among the people has not been resolute, leading to a part of the people still not agreeing with the policies and guidelines in compensation for land acquisition of the project (such as assets illegally built on agricultural land, requests for support for career conversion and job creation 5 times, land disputes between the government and the people...), not agreeing with the compensation price for land acquisition... In addition, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the speed has slowed down.

Currently, the progress of the entire route is being urged by the Government every day, the project disbursement requirement is set at a very high level. Therefore, more than ever, the work of handing over the site to the investor needs to be completed soon so that the project can be completed soon to serve economic and social development.

According to the design, the North-South expressway component projectNghi Son - Dien Chau sectionstarting point (Km380+000) after the intersection with Nghi Son - Bai Tranh road, the route goes south, about 80 km from Khe Nhoi dam, then crosses Mong Ga mountain through Truong Vinh tunnel, crosses Hoang Mai river and crosses Ba Chop mountain in the area between Khe May lake and An Nghia lake, turns right to intersect National Highway 48B (formerly Provincial Road 537), crosses Cau Giat - Nghia Dan railway, intersects National Highway 48 in Dien Doai commune.